Creative Scotland

Hot 100 2012: Not 100

They’re not hot, and there are only five of them - our pick of those who’ve not had such a good year

Donald Trump The Obama ‘birther’ conspiracist and owner of the only ego visible from space isn’t technically Scottish, but his anti-wind farm stance and opposition to a BBC screening of Anthony Baxter’s documentary You’ve Been Trumped mean he’s…

Andrew Dixon steps down as chief executive of Creative Scotland

Creative Scotland has announced that Andrew Dixon will step down from his position as chief executive. Dixon’s resignation follows a period of increasing concern from the arts community over the competence of the recently restructured national funding…

Scotland's castles offer some special festive events this Christmas

Pollok House and Kellie Castle are among the historic properties celebrating Christmas

Winter is a time when Scotland really comes to life, where our favourite stories are magically transformed on stages, perfected through music and dance; a time when our beautiful castles and stately homes are almost unrecognisable under dustings of…

Creative Scots sign open letter to Creative Scotland

As artists revolt and the Scottish Government steps in, the attacks on Creative Scotland continue

The stormy relationship between artists and Creative Scotland has picked up pace with 100 of Scotland’s leading artists writing an open letter to the agency’s chairman, Sir Sandy Crombie. The letter, from 9 October, laid out the reasons that artists…

Andrew Dixon of Creative Scotland speaks to Parliament

Chief executive of Scottish arts body clarifies organisation’s policy

Andrew Dixon, Chief Executive of Creative Scotland, yesterday explained the organisation’s policies during a session at the Scottish Parliament’s culture committee. The meeting came after several high profile members of the Scottish arts community spoke…

Why has Creative Scotland been under sustained fire during 2012?

The questions surrounding the debate over Scotland's arts funding body

The appearance of Creative Scotland’s chief executive Andrew Dixon in front of the Scottish Parliament’s education and culture committee on Tuesday 18 September reflects the arts community’s deep concern about the competence of the national funding…

Outdoor theatre and visual art parks among the great summer activities in the Year of Creative Scotland

Our natural landscape has inspired creativity for generations, and there’s no better place to experience our incredible cultural offering this summer than outdoors. Find out all that this special year has to offer at…

Inside Out Festival

Experience the thrill of outdoor theatre in St Andrews

As a Creative Places award winner, St Andrews reaches for the sky this summer with an exciting event programme that knows no boundaries. Far from the limits of the theatres’ four walls, Inside Out Festival champions outdoor theatre and performance…

Exciting June activities as part of the Year of Creative Scotland

Including goNORTH, the Spring Fling and festivals in Leith and East Neuk

In the run-up to one of the most action-packed summers in the UK, June welcomes a fantastic fusion of sport and culture in the Year of Creative Scotland. This month will bring together some of the most exciting new initiatives in 2012 with Scotland’s…

Emeli Sande, Eliza Doolittle and General Fiasco to celebrate the Olympic Torch's passage through Scotland

Scotland will burst into song as the Olympic Flame weaves its way across Scotland from 8–14 June, before reappearing on 21 June. Your community will be alive with the sound of song as a fusion of local favourites, new commissions, anthems, pop songs…

Northern Lights: A film about Scotland made by you

Scots nationwide invited to contribute to country's first mass-input film project

How would you like to see your work as part of a unique and exciting feature-length documentary film? Got a camera and something you’re eager to share? Then you’re all set to get involved and be in with a chance of winning one of many awards from the…

Make 2012 your Year of Creative Scotland

Discover incredible events happening near you this year

The Year of Creative Scotland is packed full of exciting new initiatives to complement a fantastic and enhanced, year-round cultural programme. It shows off our creativity at its best...

Cargo Publishing launch a new crowd-sourced audiobook

Glasgow-based publishing house use social media to find new readers

Publishing has seen all sorts of breakthroughs in the last few years, with a wide variety of exciting e-book projects springing up. But, as interactive as these projects promise to be, they rarely capture the aural tradition of storytelling, and the…

You've Been Trumped - Anthony Baxter interview

Director of Donald Trump doc on being shunned by Scottish film bodies

‘I live in Montrose and it’s 40 miles south of the Menie Estate, where Donald Trump was planning to build his golf course resort. I read the newspapers every day and I was surprised that the coverage was so one-sided. The other side of the story, as I…

Chem19 recording studio launch sound engineering course

Creative Scotland-backed scheme for 18 to 25-year-olds

With the backing of Creative Scotland, the Blantyre-based Chem19 music studio is offering a brand new ten-month course for aspiring young engineers. Emma Pollock, one of the founders of the studio’s parent Chemikal Underground label, explains why it’s…

Whatever happened to the Edinburgh International Film Festival?

The champagne party may be over, but the EIFF may yet rise again

Back in 2008, the EIFF seemed to be in good shape. A new June slot, a fresh artistic director in the form of Hannah McGill, and a whopping £1.88 million lottery cash investment from the Film Council, in addition to financial support from Scottish Screen…

Glasgow’s Tramway among winners at 2010 GaGA Awards

National Theatre of Scotland also win at Glasgow audience development awards

Thursday’s GaGAs 2010 highlighted some of the outstanding achievements of Scottish cultural organisations over the past year. The awards are part of organisers Culture Sparks’ ongoing endeavour to encourage intelligence and innovation throughout…

Creative Scotland director Andrew Dixon: Why successful cities make creative places

The head of the replacement body for the Scottish Arts Council offers a view on the year ahead

Some of the most successful modern cities in Europe, from Amsterdam to Barcelona, Madrid to Venice, have come to be defined by their artistic and cultural lives. Likewise here in the UK there are many examples of cities that have, in their own way, used…

Playlist: Scottish arts on screen throughout history

With the recent launch of Creative Scotland, the new body responsible for nurturing and promoting Scottish arts and culture, your latest Playlist column is taking a look at how Scottish arts have been represented in years gone by. If you’re an artist…

Future of Creative Scotland

The future of Creative Scotland remained in question again this fortnight, following Alex Salmond’s sacking of three of his ministers, including culture minister, Linda Fabiani. It was also announced that the SNP administration has binned its manifesto…

UnCreative Scotland?

As the arts world waits for a clear proposal from Creative Scotland, the current stalemate is potentially damaging, argues Robin Hodge